Swamiji speaks about our attitude to God-realisation.
Swamiji starts by saying we shouldn't pose as Gurus, but rather be good disciples [chelas]. There is only one Guru – and that is God himself.
Disciple-ship really means 'discipline-ship'. And to live a successful life as a sadhaka [spiritual seeker or aspirant] requires discipline.
Being a disciple doesn't mean we have a licence to teach. [Swamiji once said to us that you can teach only if God-realised, or if authorised to do so by the Guru. Sri Ramakrishna explained the 'badge of authority' that comes with being the village constable. Without it, there's no authority.]
Swamiji uses Sri Ramakrishna's humility as an example. At one point someone referred to him as God. He immediately said, 'Please, please don't say that. I am trying to be the dust of the dust of the feet of those who realised God.' Says Swamiji, only God can speak like that.
As long as we obey and follow the rules in all fields of life, we'll be happy. Go against the rules and the law, and we start suffering. Swamiji gives a variety of examples to emphasise the point.
Swamiji shares how he used to tell his beloved Guru, Swami Nischalananda Puri, 'I don't care whether I get God-realised or not. As long as I've met you, that's enough.'
Swamiji then tells a fun story about the sage Narada on a journey to meet Lord Vishnu, to illustrate different attitudes in people, about becoming God-realised. Two seekers – and one major difference. The picture of the tamarind tree with this post – and its millions of leaves – illustrates the powerful point made in the story.
Swamiji wraps up the homily by re-emphasising the need for and the power of, faith.
To listen to these encouraging words, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 08:30
For the free-to-read, draft 394 page expanded version of 'A Life Lived For Others'.
Click here: → Swamiji's biography
You may need to install a PDF reader on your phone if that's where you'll be reading the book.
The original audio recordings of these posts were made by close Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and Swami Shivapadananda devotee, Mother Radha. The audio editing and noise reduction of the original 1970s-onwards tapes, has been lovingly engineered, over many years, by her son and our dear gurubhai, Brother Tim. May Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji bless them both.
Admin tip: Underlined words are links. If you click on them, they'll take you to an explanation of the particular word or term. [In these overviews, Admin comments are typically in a smaller green font, and square bracketed, like this statement.]
Dear reader, if you spot typos or or other errors, please feel free to email the site admin on info@imbizo.com with your suggested correction/s.
Context: As always, care should be taken to remember that what Swamiji was saying, may have been very specific to the needs of people with him at the time. Please bear this in mind.
Links to our Guruparampara (spiritual lineage) organisations, which will broaden your knowledge base: Ramakrishna Math and Mission and our alma maters, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Durban. The Ramakrishna Centre of Johannesburg is also active in Gauteng province in South Africa.
There are various publications [The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna etc.] which you can download at no charge, from the Ramakrishna Centre of SA website page, HERE.
The picture in this post is borrowed from here.